Among the many primate species, the great apes are unique and share several important traits. This taxonomic family includes gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and, according to some experts, humans. Great apes are not only the largest primates, but also the most cognitively advanced. With the...
Although gorillas have often been miscast as violent animals, they’re actually fairly docile and avoid confrontation unless provoked or threatened. They’re the largest primate, with adult males usually weighing between 300 and 400 pounds. Their fur ranges in colour from brown to black; mountain gorillas...
Although very similar in appearance to chimpanzees, bonobos were identified as a separate species in 1933. Their name is probably derived from the misspelling of a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) called Bolobo. Bonobos are found primarily in the DRC. They have...
Chimpanzees are our closest evolutionary relatives—taxonomically, we’re both members of the Hominini tribe, and we share more than 95 percent of our DNA. In the wild, chimpanzees demonstrate the widest variety of tool use and development of all the great apes. They have a varied...
Orangutans are the only great ape that lives exclusively in Asia. Their name is derived form the Malay words “orang” (meaning “person”) and “hutan” (meaning “of the forest”). Adult male orangutans are usually twice as a large and have more facial hair than adult females....
The Canadian Ape Alliance is dedicated to raising awareness about this growing problem and finding ways to prevent the continued slaughter of endangered animals....